New assignment
Deborah Hayes named senior vice president of corporate affairs at Philadelphia Fed
10 a.m., Nov. 12, 2015--Deborah L. Hayes, vice president of communications and public affairs at the University of Delaware, has been named senior vice president of corporate affairs at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, effective Jan. 4, 2016.
"During her time at UD, Deborah Hayes and her talented team have elevated the profile of the University of Delaware, showcasing the achievements of our faculty and students," Acting President Nancy Targett said. "Her expertise in strategic communication and wise counsel have been invaluable to me and our entire administrative team, and we wish her well in her new endeavor."
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A national search will be conducted to find her successor.
In her new post, Hayes will oversee the Public Affairs, Financial Institutions Relations, and Community Development Studies and Education departments. She will also direct the bank's outreach efforts to legislative, business, banking and community groups, and manage the bank's Economic Advisory Council. She will report to Patrick T. Harker, president and chief executive officer.
In announcing her appointment, Harker said, “Deborah brings extensive strategic communications experience from diverse sectors including corporate, media, government, research, and higher education. Her innovative approach to outreach will serve the bank well.”
“I have enjoyed working with many gifted individuals throughout the University of Delaware, especially my colleagues in Communications and Public Affairs. While I am sad to leave, I am excited to have the opportunity to work with President Harker and the bank’s leadership team to help increase the engagement with the bank’s various stakeholders. It is a privilege to join an institution whose important research and outreach have an impact on a regional and national level,” Hayes said.
Before joining the University of Delaware in 2013, she served as the managing director of communications for The Pew Charitable Trusts from 2002-2011.
She was a founding partner and president of media strategies for Westhill Partners, a New York-based firm, where she focused on the areas of communications, crisis management, and public affairs from 1999-2002.
She began in her career in broadcasting. Her expertise and passion for television news resulted in her joining Oprah Winfrey/Harpo Productions in Chicago where she led all communications efforts from 1994-1999. She was also responsible for managing Winfrey’s personal media relations.
Prior to that, she held a senior position at MTV Networks in New York City and was responsible for developing the company’s internal and external communications.
Hayes has provided communications counsel on Capitol Hill. She served as press secretary for Congressman Richard Gephardt from 1985-1992, and also worked on presidential campaigns for Congressman Gephardt and Michael Dukakis.
She is a board member of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia and has chaired its Development and Communications Committee since 2009. She was selected to serve as a regional judge for the White House Fellows Program in 2011.
She holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from Tennessee State University in Nashville.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia helps formulate and implement monetary policy, supervises banks and bank and savings and loan holding companies, and provides financial services to depository institutions and the federal government. It is one of the 12 regional Reserve Banks that, together with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the Federal Reserve System. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank serves eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.